Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, today celebrated the grand opening of its new lithium-ion battery factory in De Soto, Kansas. The facility, one of the largest of its kind in North America, has officially begun mass production of 2170 cylindrical cells for electric vehicles (EVs).
Built on a site spanning 300 acres, the new plant represents a historic milestone as the largest economic development project in Kansas state history. Once fully operational, the Kansas Factory will add 32 GWh of annual capacity, bringing Panasonic Energy’s total North American production to approximately 73 GWh, alongside its Nevada Factory.
The project is expected to generate up to 4,000 direct jobs and 8,000 total jobs including suppliers and related industries. Panasonic Energy is also partnering with institutions such as the University of Kansas to foster innovation, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and develop specialized battery talent.
With more than 30 years of lithium-ion expertise and over 11 billion cells delivered worldwide, Panasonic Energy continues to set industry benchmarks for safety, performance, and reliability. Its new Kansas facility is designed with advanced, labor-saving production lines expected to deliver 20% higher productivity compared to Nevada operations.
“The opening of our Kansas Factory marks a major milestone in scaling advanced battery production in the U.S.,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy. “Together with our local partners, we are reinforcing regional supply chains, accelerating electrification, and nurturing the next generation of battery talent.”
With an industry-leading energy density of 800 Wh/L, Panasonic Energy’s batteries have powered 3.7 million EVs globally and remain central to reducing CO₂ emissions through sustainable mobility.
